Spiritual Uplifts

Even though I wasn't thrilled to have to fast on a Friday, because it meant I would have to either miss my work-out or keep it low, I did look forward to following the prophet and participating in the worldwide fast. It was also a good way to start Easter weekend and think a little more about Good Friday.

My girls were happier to fast than they normally are and they definitely fasted two meals. Even Austin fasted two meals and he doesn't usually fast at all. Erik ate breakfast later, but that was about it. I wouldn't let him fast because his eating habits wouldn't allow him to fast and be at all pleasant to be around. He's been having a hard enough time getting enough to eat lately to keep him functioning as a "normal" 8-year-old boy.

It turned out to be a peaceful day and I even managed to do a little chair Zumba with my friend's virtual class. We colored Easter eggs for about 2 hours. I had bought a space kit and Karissa taught us how to color eggs with rice and with shaving cream, and dye of course.

 The fast was a spiritual experience and we finished it off with take-out pizza, breadsticks, and sushi. We watched Hop and The Cokeville Miracle, an Easter movie and a spiritually uplifting movie.

The Easter Bunny decided to come in the middle of the day on Saturday after looking at the weather forecast for Sunday. Plus, we had nothing else going on Saturday, so why not spread the joy of the Easter festivities? There were 118 eggs hidden in the yard. They wanted it hard, so it was much harder than normal. We actually have two more eggs out there somewhere, unless some critter took off with them, which is very likely. Even more likely, we'll find them next year...

Victoria really wanted to do a decade themed dinner on Saturday. We drew years from a jar. Here are the results:

1920s

1940s

1950s

1970s

1980s

1990s

The kids knew they were going to be able to look for their baskets on Easter after church sometime, so we were all able to sleep in Sunday morning with nothing to rush awake for. I got to sleep in, for me, and even had more than an hour to read, reflect, and enjoy the Easter music on the Church app while everyone else still slept. We had a nice breakfast, an awesome church service that Jason organized, and more spiritual moments partaking of the sacrament in our home and discussing the Easter story.

I really wanted a picture with our homemade masks on. It makes it so much more real!

We obviously didn't have coordinating colors. We were lucky to be in our church clothes!

After our family pictures, the kids found their Easter baskets.

Erik's uninflated "bopper" ball that was in his basket in the basement corner.

Austin's basket in the cleaning supply closet.

He was happy he got the blue one.

Victoria's basket was in the coat closet on the top shelf. She got new sunglasses.

Karissa's was in the basement fridge.

She got a frosting dispenser and candy melts for baking.

I told Jason that I didn't get him much, besides his favorite candy and Dr. Pepper. When I was out shopping for food, I had bought the candy and then some gifts for the kids on a whim, thinking, I better pick them up before I forget!

Jason got me some gifts, though. New kitchen sheers and a new knife! I could cut up the pineapple really well that day!

The boy's boppers

Being dramatic!

We talked to extended family and prepped dinner which consisted of ham, oven-baked potatoes, asparagus, peas, rolls, and deviled eggs, part of which we took to the missionaries for their dinner.

Karissa made a cake, using her new frosting decorator, but it didn't look as good as she would have wanted, so we didn't take a picture, but it tasted fantastic! We had run out of powdered sugar and found a recipe for frosting that didn't call for it, though it was tricky and turned out more runny.

An evening watching church Easter videos together and some games, helped end the day well.

Happy Easter!